oR etre year Oar emo 
On the Dry Rot. 175 
cut in the summer, the disease first made its appearance in the 
alburnum, which, in many eases, after a few years, entirely dis- 
appeared, but the heart-wood remained sound and dry. And 
here let me observe, that in the examination of this description 
ef timber, I have always found it sound and dry, which leads me 
to believe that this is owing to the peculiar state of the heart- 
wood at the time of the death of the tree, and therefore it is more 
impervious to water, which of itself, waving every other annnide 
eration, would make it more durable. 
Our woods afford many facts which, if rightly examined, would 
go to show that the doctrine I have advanced is the true one. 
Trees may be found uprooted and lying prostrate, from which the 
alburnum has disappeared in consequence of dry rot, and yet the 
heart-wood remains sound ; stumps of dry limbs are observed 
projecting from aged living trees, which from appearance have 
been in that situation for ages, and from which the alburnum has 
also disappeared, yet the icniariectil will be firm and sound ; 
trees are seen standing erect, on the alburnum of which the dry 
rot seems to have exhausted all its power, and caused it also to 
disappear, but it had no power to act on the heart-wood ; and by 
their dusky and ragged appearance such trees seem to have been 
in that situation for a great number of years, and thus it appears 
that time only was slowly decomposing their outer surfaces, for 
if examined, it will be found that they are sound and dry within, 
and much harder than the same kind of timber seasoned in any 
other way. Can there be any doubt as to the fact that these 
limbs and these trees received their death in the summer? Others 
also are found lying prostrate, with the heart-wood entirely de- 
stroyed by the disease, yet the alburnum is in a tolerable state of 
preservation ; others present nothing but masses of decay, and in 
the bodies and limbs of others, holes will be perceived from which, 
onee projected healthy branches ; and to one that is experienced: 
in timber, these are sure signs that death has entered into their 
composition, however otherwise their appearance might indicate 
a healthy state. ‘These trees meanennsitten sanendaes =O 
life that will “sustain me in my position. I believe that the gen- 
eral practice throughout the northern and middle states is to peel 
such trees as are to be manufactured into ship plank; by saving 
the bark, this probably makes the business more profitable than 
